Apex predatory mammals as bioindicator species in environmental monitoring of elements in Dinaric Alps (Croatia).

摘要: Tissue element investigations of apex terrestrial mammals are very scarce in Europe. We quantified 16 essential and nonessential elements the kidney cortex, liver, muscle tissue 467 brown bears (Ursus arctos), 125 gray wolves (Canis lupus), one Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), three golden jackals aureus) from Croatia by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Renal cadmium (0.6% animals) lead (1%) hepatic (5%) were found toxicologically relevant levels for only bears, while other within normal range. The association age, sex, season, region with measured bear wolf was estimated multiple regression analyses. Age-related accumulation observed wolves. Lead content increased age but declined Female had higher arsenic, iron, thallium than males some tissues. Also, cadmium, mercury, copper, zinc, selenium, molybdenum, uranium more abundant female bears. Male potassium, magnesium, male calcium tissues compared to Seasonal differences mainly bears’ region-specific kidneys highest cobalt, among four studied species. reported represent baseline values Dinaric population.